•DESTRUCTION 
LOUVAIN 


BY  • EDWIN  • EMEF?SON  ★ 

PROn  • A • GRAPHIC  • RECITAL  . • 
GIVEN  • BY  • COLONEL  • EMERSON 
AETER  • HIS  • RETURN  • EROM  • THE 
ERONT  • IN  • DECEMBER  • I914  * • 
PUBLISHED  • UNDER  • THE  • AUS- 
PICES • or  ■ THE  • lGERMANISTIC  • 
S(XIETY  • OP  • CHICAGO  ★ 


omrasin  of  luinois  v.  - . 


Number  Fifteen. 


FOREWORD 

The  Germanistic  Society  has  issued  a series  of 
pamphlets,  dealing  with  the  war  in  Europe  and  its 
underlying  causes,  which  pamphlets  are  to  serve  the 
cause  of  truth,  to  correct  misrepresentations,  and  to 
exemplify  the  spirit  of  objectivity  and  fair  play. 

Former  publications: 

No.  1 — Germany  and  the  Peace  of  Europe 

By  Prof.  Ferdinand  Schevill. 

No.  2 — The  Causes  of  the  European  Conflict 

By  Prof.  John  W.  Burgess. 

No.  3 — How  Germany  Was  Forced  Into  War 

By  Raymond  E.  Swing, 

No.  4 — The  Session  of  the  German  Reichstag 

By  Prof.  Alex.  R.  Hohifeld. 

No.  5 — Germany’s  Fateful  Hour 

By  Prof.  Kuno  Francke. 

No.  6 — German  “Atrocities”  and  International  Law 
By  Prof.  James  G.  McDonald. 

No.  7 — “Militarism”  and  “The  Emperor,”  the  latter 
By  Prof.  John  W.  Burgess. 

No.  8 — The  Evolution  of  the  German  Empire 

By  Prof.  Geo.  L.  Scherger. 

No.  9 — German  Resources  and  the  War 

By  Dr.  Bernhard  Dernburg. 

No.  10 — Germany  and  England,  the  Real  ISwSue 

By  Dr.  Bernhard  Dernburg. 

No.  11 — Russian  Diplomacy  and  the  War 
By  Prof.  James  W.  Thompson. 

No.  12 — German  “War  Makers” 

By  Noel  Sargent. 

No.  13 — Nationalism  in  Europe 

By  Prof.  Dr.  Franz  Boas. 

No.  14 — By  Their  Works  Ye  Shall  Know  Them 

By  Alfred  Hoyt  Granger. 

Copies  of  these  pamphlets  are  for  sale  at  the  office 
of  the  Society  at  the  following  prices: 


Single  copies! $ 0.05 

10  copies 0.25 

100  copies 1.50 

1000  copies  (f.  o.  b.  Chicago)  10.00 


Profits  are  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Society  of 
the  Red  Cross. 


THE  GERMANISTIC  SOCIETY 

OF  CHICAGO 

Louis  Guenzel,  Recording  Secretary 
332  So.  Michigan  Ave.,  Chicago,  111. 


I 


The  De^rudion  of  Louvain. 

By 

EDWIN  EMERSON. 


Or  ?.  l"l  p 
CVS  ^ ^ 


i 

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U- 

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K 

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t "■ 


1 happened  to  be  passing  through  Cologne  on  August  28th,  when 
the  first  civil  and  military  refugees  from  Louvain  arrived  there.  At  the 
railway  station  I saw  them  alight  from  passenger  coaches  on  which  some- 
one had  written  in  chalk:  “Kriegsgefangene  und  Civilisten  aus  Loewen,” 
meaning:  “Prisoners  of  war  and  civilians  from  Louvain.”  As  a matter 
of  fact  they  appeared  to  be  treated  as  mere  refugees,  and  as  such  they 
were  taken  through  the  streets  under  a light  military  escort  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Rhine  bridge. 

Since  then  I have  seen  statements  in  English  and  French  news- 
papers that  these  so-called  prisoners  of  war  were  marched  through  the 
streets  at  Cologne  with  their  hands  tied  behind  their  backs  and  with  ropes 
around  their  necks,  after  which  they  were  court-martialled  and  shot.  I 
have  also  read  a newspaper  report  that  a priest  from  Louvain  was  lynched 
by  a furious  mob  at  the  Cologne  railway  station.  Of  this  I saw  nothing, 
though  I saw  all  who  arrived  in  Cologne  on  that  day.  They  numbered 
several  hundred,  mostly  men  of  all  ages  in  civilian  clothes,  with  a few 
women  and  children,  and  also  one  or  two  priests  in  cassocks.  The 
refugees  appeared  worn  and  thoroughly  frightened ; but  nothing  was 
done  to  add  to  their  distress.  The  dense  crowds  on  the  streets  silently 
watched  these  poor  creatures  pass  by  on  their  way  to  some  detention  camp 
across  the  river.  There  were  no  demonstrations  whatever.  All  I heard 
said  by  the  people  standing  around  me  was:  “Anne  Leute”  (poor 
creatures). 

A woman,  standing  next  to  me,  asked  me  in  Rhenish  dialect : “Why 
have  they  got  priests  along?”  A bystander  answered  her:  “The  priests 
stick  to  their  parishioners.”  Another  man  said : “Perhaps  the  priests 
are  held  responsible  for  what  happened  in  their  parish.” 

After  the  refugees  had  crossed  the  bridge  I asked  the  military  press 
censor  at  Cologne  how  these  civilians  came  to  be  prisoners  and  what 
was  going  to  be  done  with  them.  I then  heard  for  the  first  time  of  the 
tragedy  of  Louvain. 

The  censor  told  me  that  these  people  had  been  sent  out  of  Louvain 
by  the  German  military  authorities  in  Belgium  to  safeguard  their  lives 
and  to  keep  them  out  of  trouble.  He  said  he  understood  the  intention 
of  the  German  Government  was  to  repatriate  these  people  to  their  homes 
so  soon  as  things  had  quieted  down  in  Belgium.  In  the  meanwhile,  he 
explained,  the  orders  were  not  to  hold  them  as  prisoners  of  war,  but 

3 


merely  as  civilian  refugees,  temporarily  detained  for  their  own  safety. 
This  rule  would  not  apply,  he  said,  to  young  Belgian  men  fit  for  military 
service,  inasmuch  as  Belgium  had  called  all  her  able-bodied  young  men 
to  the  colors.  It  was  known,  he  added,  that  many  of  these  prisoners  from 
Louvain  were  actual  soldiers  or  militia-men,  who  had  merely  thrown 
away  their  arms  and  changed  their  uniform  for  civilian  clothes. 

That  same  evening  the  Cologne  Gazette  issued  an  extra  with  a 
despatch  from  General  Headquarters  at  the  front  announcing  the  tragedy 
at  Louvain.  This  official  despatch  was  signed  by  Quartermaster  General 
von  Stein.  On  the  following  morning  the  Cologne  Gazette  and  other 
German  newspapers  published  further  details.  None  of  these  came  from 
acknowledged  eye-witnesses. 

Presently  I received  a confidential  message,  brought  to  me  by  another 
American  staff  correspondent  of  the  newspaper  I represented,  requesting 
me  to  proceed  at  once  to  Louvain  to  make  a thorough  impartial  investiga- 
tion of  what  happened  there.  By  this  time  the  refugees  from  Louvain 
were  already  returning  there  by  rail  under  a military  escort.  The  rail- 
road trains  to  Belgium  were  crowded  with  them.  Therefore,  it  was 
impracticable  for  me  to  go  b}^  rail,  so  I decided  to  go  in  an  automobile. 
By  the  help  of  good  friends  I got  a chance  to  go  in  an  automobile  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Charles  Hirsch,  a Swiss  book  publisher.  I started  for 
Louvain  without  notifying  any  German  Government  authorities,  since  I 
preferred  for  purposes  of  more  independent  observation  to  go  as  a simple 
American  traveler  with  an  ordinary  American  passport.  My  companions 
in  the  automobile,  besides  its  owner,  were  a Swiss  newspaper  man  and 
a German  chauffeur,  who  happened  to  be  exempt  from  military  service 
because  of  physical  disability.  With  the  exception  of  this  German 
mechanic  we  all  spoke  French  fluently.  The  chauffeur,  on  the  other 
hand,  understood  Flemish.  Thanks  to  the  satisfactory  credentials  of 
my  companion  we  had  no  difficulties  along  the  way. 

When  we  arrived  in  Louvain  the  ruins  were  still  hot  and  smoking, 
and  certain  streets  were  littered  with  debris ; but  we  had  no  difficulty  in 
finding  a hotel  wherein  to  lodge,  though,  of  course,  we  first  had  to  obtain 
a permit  from  the  German  military  authorities  at  Louvain.  As  I have 
already  said,  hundreds  of  refugees  were  returning  to  Louvain.  All  the 
inhabitants  in  evidence,  of  whom  there  were  several  thousands,  appeared 
cowed  and  depressed ; but  they  were  left  unmolested  by  the  German 
troops  in  the  town  and  seemed  to  be  attending  to  their  regular  business. 
All  the  churches  and  many  shops  were  open  and  a regular  market  was 
ill  full  swing  along  the  Vieux  Marche  in  front  of  the  destroyed  library. 
Many  of  the  refugees  who  had  lost  their  homes,  were  quartered  in  the 
Manege,  an  old  military  riding  school,  the  roof  of  which  was  badly 
damaged.  At  the  same  hotel  with  us  lodged  a Prussian  officer.  Judge 
Advocate  Sievers,  who  had  just  come  to  Louvain  to  conduct  an  official 
court  of  inquiry  concerning  the  recent  happenings  in  the  town.  There 
was  also  a Mr.  Sittart,  a member  of  the  German  Reichstag,  who  likewise 
was  making  an  investigation.  With  him  were  several  German  newspaper 
correspondents,  among  them  a Dr.  Schotthoefer  of  the  staff  of  the 
“Frankfurter  Zeitung.” 


4 


the  time  we  sto])i>e(I  at  Loiivaiii  we  took  many  photopjraphs 
aiul  talked  with  all  maimer  of  eye-witnesses  of  the  trai^edy-nativcs, 
hnrijhers,  women,  priests,  friars,  sisters  of  charity,  lielj^ian  municipal 
officials,  German  officers,  active  soldiers,  reservists,  and  with  two  foreij^n 
newspaper  men,  both  of  whom  were  Hollanders.  My  companions  always 
talked  as  neutral  Switzers,  while  I always  made  myself  known  as  an 
.Vmerican. 

What  I now  shall  tell  you  of  the  events  at  Louvain  is  the  sum  total 
of  all  our  joint  impressions  gathered  on  the  spot. 


On  this  page  is  shown  a diagram  of  Louvain,  as  it  is  now,  which 
I sketched  with  the  help  of  an  official  town  map  of  this  year.  The 
destroyed  portions  of  the  town  are  crosshatched.  The  heavy  black  spots 
are  churches  and  public  buildings,  mostly  intact.  As  you  can  see  from 
this  map,  which  is  absolutely  authentic,  less  than  one-seventh  of  the 

5 


town  was  destroyed — to  be  sure  this  was  the  central  and  therefore  the 
oldest  and  most  closely  built  part. 

One  seventh  is  also  the  estimate  of  my  fellow  war-correspondent, 
Mr.  James  O’Donnell  Bennett,  of  the  Chicago  Tribune,  who  was  likewise 
at  Louvain.  The  statement  which  I have  seen  published  in  certain 
English  newspapers  that  1074  town  houses  and  1823  suburban  houses 
at  Louvain  were  destroyed  is  a crass  exaggeration.  At  most  a few 
hundred  houses  were  destroyed  in  the  town  proper.  In  the  suburbs  only 
the  eastern  district  near  the  railway  station  suffered  perceptibly,  but  that 
district  was  almost  totally  demolished,  especially  the  houses  along  the 
Rue  de  Station.  When  I say  “suburbs”  I mean  outlying  parts  of  the 
town  proper,  not  surrounding  villages.  Of  the  neighboring  villages  the 
little  place  of  Haeraat,  where  a passing  German  column  was  attacked 
from  ambush,  was  completely  burnt  down. 

Presently  I shall  explain  to  you  precisely  how  various  historic  build- 
ings and  churches  either  suffered  or  escaped  destruction;  but  first  let 
me  tell  the  story  of  what  actually  happened,  so  far  as  I was  able  to  make 
out  from  all  my  talks  with  eye-witnesses  on  the  spot. 

The  first  indication  of  the  approach  of  the  German  anny  was  a 
German  aeroplane  flying  over  the  town  on  the  morning  of  August  17th. 
The  first  German  troops  entered  Louvain  on  the  afternoon  of  August 
19th,  a Wednesday.  On  the  night  before  there  had  been  fighting  at 
Tirlemont  and  at  Wespelaer  and  Cumptich  near  Louvain,  where  the 
Belgians  were  routed.  The  Germans  there  captured  a flag  and  two  field 
pieces.  The  regular  Belgian  troops  fell  back  toward  Malines  (Mechelin), 
whence  it  was  reported  that  French  and  English  troops  were  advancing 
by  forced  marches  toward  Louvain.  Many  of  the  Louvain  militiamen, 
who  had  taken  part  in  the  battle  at  Tirlemont,  fell  back  into  Louvain. 
They  fought  a rear-guard  action  at  Lovenjoul  near  Louvain,  where  some 
Belgian  lancers  and  some  German  uhlans  were  killed.  There  was  also 
another  rear-guard  fight  at  Wespelaer,  where  some  German  uhlans  who 
galloped  into  the  village  were  shot  down  by  men  concealed  in  the  houses. 
Some  Belgian  lancers,  fleeing  into  Louvain,  tried  to  rally  their  comrades 
on  the  Place  du  Peuple,  but  in  vain.  Then  they  rode  off  in  the  direction 
of  Malines. 

The  mayor  and  aldermen  of  Louvain  decided  that  it  was  hopeless 
to  defend  the  town  and  therefore  sent  out  emissaries  under  a white  flag 
proclaiming  Louvain  “an  open  town.”  At  the  same  time  the  remaining 
militia-men  in  the  town  were  bidden  to  disarm  and  to  return  to  their 
civil  pursuits.  A proclamation  in  French  and  Flemish  was  posted  on 
the  street-corners,  of  which  I still  saw  some  in  Louvain.  This  proclama- 
tion said : 

“To  civilians.  The  Minister  of  the  Interior  recommends  to 
civilians,  whenever  the  enemy  may  appear : firstly,  not  to  fight ; 
secondly,  not  to  indulge  in  insults  or  threats ; thirdly,  to  remain  in- 
doors and  to  close  all  shutters,  lest  it  may  be  said  that  there  has  been 
provocation;  fourthly,  if  soldiers  occupy  a house  in  order  to  defend 
themselves,  to  vacate  it,  lest  it  be  said  that  civilians  did  the  shooting. 

6 


Any  act  of  violence  committed  l)y  individual  civilians  would  be  a 
veritable  crime,  wliich  the  law  punishes  with  arrest  and  condemns, 
since  it  might  serve  as  a ])retext  for  bloody  retaliation,  for  pillage, 
or  for  massacre  of  innocent  people — women  and  children.” 

When  the  first  German  troops  approached  Louvain  the  Belgian  field 
artillery  was  still  bring  near  Lovenjoul,  but  ])resently  the  roar  of  the  guns 
died  away  and  the  Germans  were  suffered  to  enter  Louvain  unmolested. 
This  was  before  the  surrender  of  Brussels.  The  German  soldiers  marched 
into  the  town  with  drums  and  fifes  playing,  while  the  men  in  the  ranks 
sang  “Die  Wacht  am  Rhein.”  Some  of  the  infantry  detachments  be- 
longed to  the  165th  Prussian  Fuseliers,  of  the  seventh  German  army 
corps.  The  officer  who  took  definite  charge  of  the  town  was  Major  von 
Manteuft'el  from  Altenburg  in  Thuringia.  The  commanding  officer  of 
the  staff  headquarters  established  at  Louvain  was  Captain  of  Cavalry, 
Carl  Friedrich  von  Esmarch,  a son  of  Princess  Henriette  of  Sleswick- 
Holstein,  an  aunt  of  the  German  Empress. 

Immediately  after  the  arrival  of  the  German  troops  the  following 
proclamation  in  German,  French  and  Flemish  was  posted  on  the  street 
corners : 

‘‘To  Belgians : The  death  penalty  will  be  inflicted  on  all  inhab- 
itants, not  uniformed  as  soldiers,  who  shoot  at  our  soldiers  or  who 
otherwise  take  part  in  fighting,  who  render  active  military  aid  to 
Belgian  troops  or  to  their  allies,  who  commit  any  act  detrimental 
to  life  and  public  safety,  or  who  act  as  spies.  All  arms  must  be 
delivered  to  the  authorities.  Whatever  civilian  is  found  with  arms 
renders  himself  liable  to  severe  punishment,  in  case  of  aggravating 
circumstances,  death.  Townships  or  hamlets  where  the  inhab- 
itants attack  our  troops,  will  be  burnt  down.  Wherever  bridges, 
railways  or  telegraph  wires  are  destroyed  the  nearest  settlement 
will  be  held  responsible.” 

Soon  the  German  troops  were  billeted  about  the  town.  Previously 
all  Belgian  flags  had  disappeared  from  the  public  buildings  and  houses. 
In  accordance  with  a German  proclamation  of  August  15th,  which  was 
likewise  posted  on  the  street  corners,  hostages  were  required,  consisting 
of  one  municipal  officer,  one  clergyman  and  two  leading  citizens.  In  this 
case  the  mayor  of  Louvain,  the  Jesuit  rector  of  the  university,  and  two 
citizens  were  taken  into  custody.  The  usual  requisitions  were  made, 
especially  for  arms.  Very  few  arms  were  surrendered.  In  money  con- 
tribution the  German  commander  first  collected  2000  francs  and  then 
demanded  5000  more,  of  which  only  3,800  were  collected  by  the  city 
treasurer  of  Louvain,  Mr.  Van  Ernem. 

The  inhabitants  submitted  with  apparent  resignation  to  the  inevitable. 
Many  of  the  Flemings  became  quite  friendly  with  the  troops  particularly 
at  the  market  where  the  German  soldiers  bought  large  quantities  of 
supplies,  paying  for  them  with  German  money.  Almost  all  the  shops 
reopened.  So  far  as  I could  gather  from  my  native  informants  no  un- 
pleasant incident  happened  at  Louvain  during  the  first  six  days  following 
the  first  entry  of  the  German  troops.  Fresh  troops  were  constantly 

7 


passing  through  the  town  by  rail  and  on  foot  in  the  direction  of  Brussels 
and  Malines,  and  new  troops  took  the  place  of  some  of  those  who  had 
come  first. 

During  this  week  some  of  the  German  soldiers  in  the  town  got  very 
much  excited  over  stories  of  guerilla  atrocities,  reported  to  have  been 
committed  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Louvain.  Thus  it  was  reported 
that  Colonel  Stenger,  commanding  at  Aerschot,  near  Louvain,  was  shot 
in  the  back  by  the  son  of  the  burgomaster  of  that  town,  M.  Tielemans, 
as  he  was  standing  on  the  balcony  of  the  burgomaster’s  house.  It  was 
further  reported  from  Wespelaer  that  five  German  troopers  quartered 
there  were  found  in  their  beds  with  their  throats  cut.  Another  story 
from  Liege  reported  that  a number  of  German  soldiers  sleeping  in  a 
barn  were  burned  to  death  through  treachery.  A similar  story  came  from 
Clermont.  Blood-curdling  rumors  also  reached  Louvain  of  stern  German 
reprisals  against  native  guerillas  and  snipers  in  the  vicinity.  All  these 
happenings  naturally  made  bad  blood,  still  there  were  no  noteworthy 
outbreaks  of  the  smouldering  resentment. 

On  the  night  of  August  24th  and  early  in  the  morning  of  August  25th 
private  word  reached  Louvain  that  the  Belgian  troops,  who  were  shut 
up  in  Antwerp,  on  that  same  day  would  make  a sortie  in  force  in  the 
direction  of  Malines.  Should  they  be  successful  in  cutting  their  way 
through  the  Germans,  it  was  expected  that  they  would  be  joined  by  strong 
French  and  English  columns,  and  that  all  the  inhabitants  of  that  region 
would  rise  against  the  Germans  to  drive  them  headlong  out  of  Belgium  all 
along  the  line  of  Malines,  Louvain,  Tirlemont,  and  Liege.  This  secret 
message,  so  I was  told  by  a sexton  of  one  of  the  Louvain  churches,  first 
reached  a certain  Jesuit  priest,  now  dead,  who  passed  the  warning  along 
to  some  of  his  brother  Jesuits  and  parishioners.  However  this  may  be, 
it  is  certain  that  the  secret  was  well  kept,  for  none  of  the  German  officers 
or  soldiers  in  Louvain  got  any  inkling  of  it. 

The  German  commandant  Major  Manteufifel,  felt  himself  so  secure 
that  on  the  morning  of  the  same  day,  August  25th,  he  posted  official 
notices  congratulating  the  inhabitants  on  their  irreproachable  peaceful 
attitude.  At  the  same  time  he  released  the  hostages,  who  had  been  held 
in  light  custody. 

As  a matter  of  fact  the  Belgian  garrison  of  Antwerp  on  that  day  did 
make  its  promised  sortie  and  fought  its  way  through  so  far  as  Malines, 
where  the  sortie  was  stopped  and  repulsed  with  heavy  losses  to  the 
Belgians.  They  got  no  support  from  the  French  or  English.  Late  in  the 
afternoon  the  roar  of  artillery  fire  in  the  direction  of  Malines  could  be 
distinctly  heard  at  Louvain.  The  sound  of  the  firing  seemed  to  be  coming 
nearer  and  nearer.  About  six  in  the  evening  word  reached  the  German 
commandant  at  Louvain  that  the  German  advance  forces  between  Brussels 
and  Malines  were  hotly  engaged  and  might  need  support.  The  call  to 
arms  was  sounded  at  Louvain  and  all  available  mobile  troops  were  des- 
patched under  forced  marching  orders  in  the  direction  of  Malines.  Major 
von  Manteufifel  preceded  them  in  an  automobile. 

About  the  same  time  Captain  von  Esmarch,  of  the  General  Staff, 
brought  some  German  reinforcements  of  the  Landsturm  battalion  of  Neuss. 

8 


These  came  into  Louvain  by  rail  from  Liege.  'Phcy  were  determined  to 
act  as  a reserve. 

About  one  hour  later  it  so  happened  that  a bedraggled  troop  of 
German  stragglers,  among  them  some  wounded,  some  sick,  and  many 
foot-sore  soldiers  of  all  arms,  came  limping  into  Louvain.  Instantly  a 
report  spread  among  the  citizens  that  these  men  were  the  first  of  the 
defeated  Germans  fleeing  from  the  battlefield  of  Malines,  where  all  of  the 
German  army  was  believed  to  have  been  completely  overwhelmed  and 
routed.  This  rumor  spread  like  wild-fire  all  over  town. 

I have  heard  it  stated  that  these  German  stragglers  were  mistaken  for 
enemies  by  their  comrades  in  town  and  were  received  with  a volley  of 
rifle  fire  which  they  returned  in  kind,  thus  causing  the  general  massacre. 
Of  this  story  I never  could  get  any  convincing  confirmation  in  Louvain. 
The  stragglers  came  into  Louvain  leisurely  and  while  it  was  still  daylight ; 
therefore,  such  a mistake  would  appear  to  have  been  out  of  the  question. 

Heretofore,  the  curfew  hour  at  Louvain,  as  established  by  the  Ger- 
man military  authorities,  was  at  seven ; but  on  this  day  when  the  hostages 
were  released  as  a sign  of  confidence,  a special  order  from  Major  von 
Manteuffel  had  extended  the  hour  to  8 P.  M.  Citizens  were  then  expected 
to  close  their  doors  and  window  shutters ; but  soldiers  of  the  German  army 
of  occupation  were  allowed  to  remain  on  the  street  one  hour  longer. 

At  8 P.  M.,  accordingly,  all  doors  and  shutters  were  closed.  Just 
before  the  sounding  of  retreat,  one  hour  later,  the  German  soldiers  were 
surprised  to  behold  two  sky  rockets,  one  red  and  then  one  green,  rising 
above  the  dark  town.  Then  the  cathedral  clock  struck  nine.  Before  the 
German  headquarters  in  the  town  hall  of  the  main  plaza  a bugler  blew 
the  retreat. 

Almost  at  the  same  moment  there  came  the  crackle  of  rifle  fire  from 
all  over  town.  The  fusillade  came  through  loop  holes  from  behind  closed 
doors  and  shutters,  from  attic  and  mansarde  windows,  from  cellar  holes 
and  other  hidden  points  of  vantage. 

Many  German  soldiers  were  shot  down  while  sitting  at  open  air 
tables ; others  while  running  through  the  streets ; others  again  while  trying 
to  seek  cover  or  to  form  ranks  under  orders  of  their  bewildered  officers. 

Judging  from  the  German  casualties  the  heaviest  guerilla  fire  came 
from  certain  buildings  along  the  Vieux  Marche  and  from  the  University 
Library,  which  were  believed  to  be  unoccupied,  and  also  from  a large 
building  opposite  the  railway  station,  where  the  hidden  snipers  brought 
an  unsuspected  machine-gun  into  play  against  the  German  reserve  troops 
bivouacking  in  the  station  buildings  and  in  the  railroad  yards.  Of  course 
the  surprised  German  soldiers,  who  were  scattered  all  over  town,  fired 
back  at  their  assailants  as  best  they  could  whenever  they  saw  flashes  of 
gunfire  in  the  dark.  It  may  well  be  in  the  confusion  of  the  nocturnal 
street-fighting  and  the  wild  stampede  of  frightened  wagon  teams  and 
loose  horses  that  some  of  the  soldiers  mistook  some  of  their  own  comrades 
for  foes. 

At  all  events  the  furious  street  battle  lasted  all  that  night  and  part 
of  the  next  day,  with  renewed  outbursts  wherever  the  German  soldiers 

9 


fought  their  way  into  suspected  houses  or  were  ordered  to  smoke  out 
their  enemies  by  setting  fire  to  houses  harboring  guerillas. 

As  a result  of  the  first  night’s  fighting,  August  25-26,  some  sixty 
German  soldiers  were  found  dead  along  the  Vieux  Marche  with  over 
a hundred  dead  in  and  around  the  railroad  station.  I myself  saw  the 
fresh  dug  graves  of  some  two  hundred  German  soldiers  killed  at  Lou- 
vain. Several  officers  also  fell,  among  them  a General  Staff  captain, 
who  was  found  in  a house  with  his  throat  cut.  No  less  than  five  staff 
officers  were  wounded  on  the  Place  du  Peuple  alone.  All  their  horses 
there  were  killed. 

Of  course,  many  more  natives  were  killed,  among  them  many 
innocent  people,  some  women  and  a few  children.  Many  men  of  Lou- 
vain, who  were  found  with  weapons  in  their  possession  or  with  hands 
and  faces  blackened  by  powder  stains,  were  stood  up  against  walls  and 
were  shot  by  the  infuriated  soldiers.  Two  fanatical  priests  were  shot 
near  the  monument  on  the  market  place  because  they  were  caught  in 
the  act  of  distributing  cartridges  to  some  men.  In  the  vaults  of  the 
church  of  St.  Peter  some  350  Belgian  army  rifles  with  ammunition  belts 
were  discovered  by  the  Germans. 

Later  many  innocent  people  were  made  prisoners  and  were  marched 
under  guard  up  and  down  the  streets  of  Louvain  as  hostages,  in  order 
to  put  a stop  to  the  persistent  rifle  fire  from  the  houses.  This  was  on 
the  two  successive  days,  August  26th  and  27th,  but  even  then  some  of 
the  soldiers  escorting  these  prisoners,  and  likewise  some  of  the  innocent 
hostages,  were  shot  down  by  snipers  firing  from  hidden  places.  A 
German  gasoline  convoy  went  up  in  flames  and  the  fire  spread.  Many 
houses  were  deliberately  set  on  fire  by  the  soldiers,  hunting  for  their 
enemies. 

On  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  August  27th,  when  the  central 
district  of  the  town  was  in  flames,  guerilla  fighting  was  still  being  kept 
up  in  various  parts  of  the  town.  Then  the  inhabitants  were  warned 
by  a public  crier,  accompanied  by  a drummer,  who  marched  up  and 
down  the  empty  streets  announcing  that  artillery  fire  from  German  field 
guns  which  had  been  summoned  from  outside  would  be  brought  to  bear 
on  the  town.  All  peaceful  citizens,  many  of  whom  were  already  huddled 
together  at  various  detention  places,  were  warned  to  leave  the  town. 

In  execution  of  this  order  several  blocks  of  houses  were  actually 
shot  down  by  artillery  and  other  houses  were  riddled  by  German  machine- 
guns.  More  than  20,000  inhabitants  were  sent  out  of  the  city,  many 
on  foot  under  military  escort  toward  Tirlemont  or  Malines,  while  others 
went  by  rail  to  Aix  and  Cologne.  These  last  were  the  refugees  whom  I 
met  in  Cologne.  Of  the  45,000  original  inhabitants  of  Louvain  barely 
a few  hundred  remained.  Of  these  most  were  killed.  I could  form  no 
private  estimate ‘of  their  actual  number,  since  most  of  their  bodies  were 
lost  under  the  ashes  of  their  burning  houses.  Afterward  the  Germans 
unearthed  42  of  these.  This  was  down  to  September  8th.  Previously 
some  three  hundred  bodies  of  natives  had  been  buried  under  German 
supervision.  Among  the  more  noted  dead  were  Professors  Ponthiere 

10 


and  Lcncrtz,  Messrs.  Van  lu'tryck  and  David,  two  Jesuit  fathers  and 
over  a score  of  university  students  and  volunteer  militia  men. 

The  following-  is  the  account  given  us  by  the  German  vStaff  captain, 
Baron  von  Ksmarch,  who  was  wounded  by  four  shots  from  a Belgian 
machine-gun  during  the  first  night’s  fighting,  when  his  horse  was  shot 
under  him: 

“On  Tuesday,  August  25th  at  6 P.  M.,  I arrived  at  the  Louvain 
railway  station  with  a detachment  of  reserves  of  the  battalion  of 
Neuss.  We  had  just  unloaded  the  horses  and  detrained  our  first 
detachment,  and  I was  leading  them  to  the  Belgian  lancers’  barracks, 
where  we  were  to  put  up  our  horses  for  the  night,  when  our  adjutant 
brought  me  an  order  to  sound  the  alarm,  as  our  troops  were  in  battle 
about  ten  kilometers  away  in  the  direction  of  Malines.  Accordingly 
I had  the  alarm  sounded  and  posted  my  men  on  the  Place  du  Peuple. 
While  we  were  stationed  there  some  of  our  outgoing  troops  passed 
us.  Meanwhile  we  had  supper. 

“I  had  just  ridden  to  the  upper  end  of  the  Plaza  when  I heard 
the  cathedral  clock  strike  nine.  All  lights  were  out.  Suddenly  I 
saw  a sky  rocket,  followed  by  another.  Instantly  there  came  rifle 
fire  from  all  the  houses  around  the  Plaza.  The  inhabitants  were 
firing  from  behind  closed  shutters.  I could  tell  this  from  the  flashes. 
Evidently  loop-holes  had  been  drilled  through  the  shutters.  It  was 
clear  to  me  that  the  assault  had  been  thoroughly  prepared.  From 
the  direction  of  the  railway  station  I heard  the  pop-pop-pop  of  a 
Belgian  machine-gun.  I started  at  a gallop  to  summon  our  reserves. 

“In  the  middle  of  the  Plaza  stood  a number  of  our  transport 
wagons.  As  I was  galloping  past  these  wagons  I heard  the  horrible 
rattle  of  a Belgian  machine-gun  close  by.  At  the  same  instant  my 
horse  fell  under  me.  While  I lay  pinned  under  my  bleeding  horse,  I 
received  four  shots  and  a scratch  from  one  glancing  shot.  Then  a 
runaway  team  of  horses  ran  over  me  and  a wheel  of  a heavy  trans- 
port wagon  passed  over  my  breast.  I lost  consciousness. 

“When  I came  to,  I found  myself  lying  in  the  dark  on  a blanket 
under  a wagon.  Some  of  my  men  were  near  me,  firing  from  behind 
a barricade  of  wagons.  I learned  that  my  orderly  had  dragged  me 
out  from  under  my  dead  horse  and  had  thus  saved  my  life.  Several 
of  my  fellow  officers  had  likewise  been  put  hors  de  combat  by  being 
shot  from  their  horses.  Fortunately  I still  had  strength  enough  to 
issue  commands  to  my  men,  most  of  whom  were  within  call  among 
the  wagons  in  the  Plaza. 

“In  the  darkness,  apparently,  the  snipers  lurking  behind  their 
closed  shutters  had  not  noticed  that  my  company  of  men  had  stayed 
behind  in  the  Plaza  when  our  other  troops  were  summoned  away  by 
the  battle  alarm  outside.  The  methodical  rifle  fire  that  was  kept  up 
by  our  men  silenced  the  snipers  around  the  Plaza,  Now  my  men 
stormed  into  one  house  after  the  other  smashing  the  doors  with 
their  rifle  butts,  and  setting  fire  to  various  houses.  So  soon  as  the 
smoke  became  too  thick  the  snipers  came  rushing  downstairs  and 

11 


out  of  the  houses.  They  were  frenzied  men  with  military  rifles,  shot- 
guns, revolvers  and  knives.  As  they  sprang  from  behind  their  cover 
they  were  shot  down  by  our  men.  I issued  strict  orders  that  no 
unarmed  person,  woman  or  child  should  be  fired  at. 

“Whife  this  was  happening  in  the  center  of  the  town,  another 
of  our  troop  trains  rolled  into  the  station  and  the  men  were  detrained 
at  the  double  quick.  They,  too,  came  under  a withering  machine-gun 
fire  from  a house  opposite  the  station.  Many  of  our  men  were  killed 
there.  Issuing  from  the  station  under  fire  they  charged  up  the  long 
street  leading  from  the  station  and  joined  in  the  battle.  Meanwhile 
the  shots  from  the  houses  were  kept  up  all  that  night  and  throughout 
the  next  day. 

“My  wounds  had  all  been  caused  by  a machine-gun,  which  was 
planted  on  the  balcony  of  an  hotel  that  stood  at  a street  extension, 
two  houses  from  the  corner  of  the  Plaza.  My  men  later  reported 
that  they  had  crawled  along  the  hotel  walls  and  had  killed  the  men 
manning  the  machine-guns  from  beneath  the  balcony  openings. 

“My  men  then  stormed  the  hotel,  bayoneted  the  armed  scullions 
and  waiters  inside  and  set  fire  to  the  hotel.  With  several  other 
wounded  men  I was  carried  to  a nearby  hospital  in  the  Dominican 
cloister.  There  were  several  monks  in  cowls  in  the  hospital  whom 
my  men  had  to  threaten  with  their  bayonets  before  they  would  let 
us  enter. 

“While  I lay  at  the  hospital  we  w’ere  fired  on  from  the  houses 
opposite,  so  that  our  men  had  to  storm  those  houses.  On  the  follow- 
ing day  we  invalids  were  carried  to  the  railway  station  and  were 
again  fired  upon  while  on  the  way.  All  this  time  the  fight  was  still 
raging  in  the  city.  Later  I was  taken  to  a field  hospital'  outside 
Louvain  where  I was  attended  by  Dr.  Hoesch,  a Belgian  surgeon, 
and  by  several  Belgian  Catholic  sisters  of  mercy,  who  nursed  all  us 
invalids  there  bravely  and  devotedly.” 

Afterward  this  officer  was  transported  to  the  German  field  hospital 
at  Liege  and  thence  to  Kiel,  where  his  home  was. 

Captain  von  Esmarch’s  first  lieutenant,  who  brought  the  third 
company  of  the  battalion  of  Neuss  to  Louvain  on  a train  following 
that  of  Captain  von  Esmarch,  told  the  following  story: 

“We  were  due  to  arrive  at  Louvain  at  9 P.  M.,  August  25th, 
coming  from  Liege.  As  our  train  rolled  into  Louvain,  even  before 
we  reached  the  station,  a hail  of  bullets  struck  our  cars,  shattering 
windows  and  wounding  several  men.  Two  of  the  men  died  of  their 
wounds.  Our  train  came  to  a sudden  halt  in  the  railroad  yard  and 
we  detrained  in  a hurry.  Bullets  were  whistling  all  around  us.  I 
could  hear  a machine-gun.  It  made  different  sound  from  that  of 
our  machine-guns. 

“There  we  stood  near  the  railroad  sheds  as  in  a ail  de  sac.  I 
had  no  idea  what  was  the  matter.  We  had  heard  something  of  an 
approach  of  an  English  column  to  aid  the  Belgians,  who  might  come 

12 


out  of  Antwerp,  so  I feared  that  tlic  l^elj^ians  had  really  broken 
through  and  that  the  h'nglish  had  got  past  our  forces  and  had  taken 
Ix:)uvain. 

“lint  as  we  deployed  under  fire  across  the  railroad  yard  we 
met  a small  detachment  of  our  railroad  troo])S,  who  told  us  that  the 
civil  population  of  Louvain  had  risen  against  us  all  over  town.  We 
had  arrived  just  in  time  for  the  opening  of  the  fight.  The  other 
company  of  our  battalion,  they  said,  was  fighting  somewhere  in  the 
center  of  the  town  under  Esmarch’s  command. 

“Right  across  the  street  from  the  entrance  of  the  railway  station 
the  Belgians  had  a machine  gun.  They  were  firing  into  the  station 
so  hard  that  we  had  to  deploy  to  the  riglit  and  the  left  of  the  building. 
At  the  other  end  of  the  station  street  there  was  another  Belgian 
machine-gun  detachment  firing  from  behind  a barricade  erected  on 
a balcony  of  a house  that  projected  into  the  street. 

“I  took  my  men  up  the  street  on  the  double  quick.  An  adj  utant, 
running  up  from  behind,  transmitted  an  order  to  me  to  take  a hun- 
dred men,  or  as  many  as  I could  quickly  muster  up  to  a hundred, 
herewith  to  storm  two  houses  half  way  up  the  street,  from  the 
windows  of  which  people  were  firing.  My  orders  were  to  seize  and 
send  back  all  young  men  encountered,  and  to  seize  any  amis  or 
ammunition.  I complied  with  my  orders,  dividing  my  men  into  two 
firing  platoons,  who  presently  succeeded  in  storming  both  houses. 
Other  adjoining  houses  likewise  had  to  be  stormed. 

“These  houses,  in  all  of  which  my  men  found  men  with  arms, 
were  set  on  fire  and  the  prisoners  were  sent  back  for  drumhead 
court  martials. 

“During  the  fighting,  my  men  were  joined  by  other  platoons. 
Again  and  again,  as  we  worked  our  way  around  the  street  corners 
we  came  under  fire.  It  seemed  as  if  the  whole  population  had  risen 
against  us.  Right  and  left  houses  were  set  on  fire.  All  the  central 
part  of  the  town  was  lit  up  by  flames,  with  thick  black  clouds  of 
smoke  rolling  above  us.  It  was  a terrible  spectacle. 

“During  the  night  I was  told  that  some  thirty  Belgian  men, 
caught  with  weapons  in  their  hands,  had  been  stood  up  against  walls 
and  shot.  Wednesday  morning  early  our  company  was  recalled  to 
protect  the  station.  Again  we  were  shot  at,  and  again  we  had  to 
sally  forth  to  the  attack.  A captured  Belgian  machine-gun  with 
ammunition  now  was  being  used  by  our  men.  More  houses  were 
set  on  fire  and  more  prisoners  were  taken — fully  half  a hundred, 
among  them  a priest  and  several  Belgian  soldiers  disguised  in 
civilian  clothes. 

“Later  I had  to  take  my  company  into  other  parts  of  the  city 
where  all  the  houses  were  still  standing.  Here,  too,  we  were  fired 
upon  from  behind  closed  doors  and  windows.  My  men  became 
almost  unmanageable.  Some  dreadful  things  happened ; but  what 
«ould  I do?  War  is  hard. 


13 


“On  the  third  night  we  bivouacked  in  the  railway  station.  Now 
we  were  left  unmolested.  My  men  slept  the  sleep  of  exhaustion. 
We  had  several  wounded  and  dead  among  them.  Our  dead  were 
buried  early  next  morning.  During  the  night  we  were  alarmed  by 
more  firing  in  a distant  quarter  of  the  town,  but  other  troops  attended 
to  that  alarm.  After  that  we  had  only  patrol  duty.” 

Here  is  another  version,  told  by  Monsignor  Coenraets,  the  vice- 
rector of  the  University  of  Louvain,  a Belgian  clergyman,  who  came 
out  of  the  burning  city  together  with  other  refugees,  among  whom  were 
some  of  his  fellow  professors,  clergymen  and  sisters  of  mercy.  This 
is  what  he  had  to  say  immediately  after  the  tragedy: 

“I  cannot  deny  that  our  people  shot  pitilessly  at  the  German 
soldiers.  By  the  sound  of  the  firing  I was  able  to  distinguish  very 
well  between  German  and  Belgian  shots.  What  I heard  during  the 
first  five  minutes  of  the  general  fusillade  were  no  German  shots. 

“Later  I was  taken  into  custody  and  had  to  serve  as  one  of  the 
hostages  for  the  town.  This  was  because  I was  superintendent  of 
the  Lyceum  and  therefore  was  supposed  to  have  influence  over  the 
people.  Relays  of  hostages  alternated  with  each  other  in  reporting 
at  the  town  hall,  where  each  group  in  turn  had  to  be  at  call  from 
three  in  the  afternoon  until  the  next  day.  On  the  first  day  after  the 
revolt  the  burgomaster  and  the  rector  of  the  university  had  to 
report.  On  the  following  day  the  lot  fell  to  the  vice-burgomaster 
and  to  me. 

“As  I entered  my  duty  on  that  day,  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  a 
most  terrible  shooting  started  up  anew  all  over  the  town.  By  the 
different  sound  we  could  tell  it  was  not  from  the  German  rifles.  It 
could  not  come  from  regular  Belgian  troops  for  there  were  none  of 
them  left  in  the  town.  Towards  evening  the  shooting  ceased,  and 
we  walked  up  and  down  the  Rue  de  la  Station  with  a white  flag  in 
order  to  quiet  the  people.  Father  Dillon  spoke  to  them  in  Flemish, 
Senator  Orbau  de  Xivry  in  French.  Then  we  returned  to  the  city 
hall  and  were  allowed  to  retire  under  guard. 

“Next  morning  our  quarters  were  changed  from  the  city  hall  to 
the  railway  station.  On  our  way  there,  under  a white  flag,  we 
stopped  over  and  over  again.  Father  Dillon  read  aloud  in  Flemish 
and  French  a proclamation  of  the  German  military  commander, 
which  said:  ‘We  have  taken  hostages  from  you,  and  if  another  shot 
is  fired  we  shall  have  to  shoot  them !’  Two  German  officers  walked 
beside  us  with  pistols  in  their  hands  ready  to  shoot.  With  us  came 
several  sisters  of  charity.  Women,  children  and  aged  men  of  Lou- 
vain stood  around  us  with  uplifted  hands  crying  to  the  people  in 
the  houses  not  to  shoot  at  the  soldiers  so  as  to  save  us  from  death. 
Behind  us  marched  twenty  German  soldiers  with  their  rifles  in 
their  hands. 

“While  Father  Dillon  was  reading  the  proclamation  at  the  comer 
of  the  Rue  Frederic  Lints,  the  shooting  at  Germans  from  hidden 
places  began  again.  We  gave  ourselves  up  for  lost ; but  the  officers 

14 


with  us  iiicrci fully  restrained  the  soldiers.  Notwithslandinj:^  the 
shooting',  we  were  led  through  the  streets  for  five  more  hours,  and 
during  that  time  at  different  points  of  the  city  we  read  aloud  the 
proclamation  again  and  again. 

“At  three  in  the  afternoon  we  were  taken  back  to  the  station, 
completely  tired  out  from  the  nervous  strain.  The  officers  and 
soldiers  with  us  showed  the  effect  just  as  we  did.  There  we  were 
furnished  with  a hot  meal.  I was  then  allowed  to  go  home,  as  my 
time  of  service  had  expired.  A German  military  surgeon.  Dr.  Berg- 
hausen  of  Coiogne,  magnanimously  offered  to  accompany  me.  I owe 
him  my  life.  We  had  walked  as  far  as  the  Rue  Leopold  when  a 
shot  came  from  behind  a door  of  a house  facing  the  grain  market. 
At  once  some  German  soldiers  on  patrol  leveled  their  rifles  at  me. 
The  German  surgeon  threw  himself  before  me,  covering  me  with 
his  own  body ; so  I w-as  saved. 

“I  passed  the  night  in  the  Dominican  cloister.  On  the  next  day, 
because  the  shooting  from  the  houses  still  continued,  the  German 
commander  told  me  that  the  houses  would  have  to  be  leveled  with 
artillery.  Together  with  members  of  the  religious  orders,  charity 
sisters,  aged  folk,  women  and  children,  as  well  a.s  some  wounded 
soldiers  and  civilians,  I boarded  a military  train  which  in  twenty 
hours  brought  us  to  Aix-la  Chapelle.  After  some  days  there,  I was 
given  permission  to  return  to  Louvain.” 

Monsignor  Coenraets’  version  was  corroborated  by  a Dominican  friar, 
whose  name  I unfortunately  did  not  catch.  In  my  presence  this  friar 
made  the  following  declaration  to  my  traveling  companion,  the  Swiss 
newspaper  man,  who  sent  the  statement  to  his  newspaper  in  Zurich.  This 
was  the  friar’s  story: 

“After  the  first  entry  of  the  German  troops  we  had  complete 
quiet  at  Louvain.  In  the  churches  an  exhortation  from  the  arch- 
bishop of  Malines  was  read  from  the  pulpits  advising  our  parishion- 
ers to  bow  to  the  authorities  by  abstaining  from  violence  in  word  or 
deed.  I myself  read  aloud  this  appeal  from  the  pulpit  after  regular 
service  on  Tuesday,  August  25th.  In  the  afternoon  of  that  day 
secret  word  reached  us  that  our  men  had  come  out  of  Antwerp, 
had  beaten  the  Germans  at  Malines,  and  that  our  army  together 
with  British  and  French  troops  were  hot  on  the  trail  of  the  Germans, 
who  were  fleeing  toward  Louvain. 

“Soon  after  the  arrival  of  this  news  we  could  hear  cannon  fire 
in  the  direction  of  Malines.  This  put  everybody  in  a state  of  wild 
excitement.  Word  was  passed  around  that  now  the  time  had  come 
to  get  rid  of  the  hated  Germans. 

“Before  nightfall  a column  of  German  fugitives  came  in.  They 
appeared  discouraged  and  desperate.  Most  of  the  remaining  Ger- 
man soldiers  immediately  were  called  to  arms.  Hurriedly  they  left 
the  city,  one  detachment  following  after  the  other  in  hot  haste.  The 
German  commandant  also  was  seen  leaving  Louvain  in  an  auto- 
mobile. 


15 


‘‘At  once  the  joyful  news  spread  that  the  German  army  had 
been  beaten,  and  was  in  full  retreat,  and  that  the  hour  for  vengeance 
was  at  hand.  It  was  whispered  about  that  the  signal  for  rising 
would  be  given  at  the  proper  time.  Soon  after  I first  heard  of  this 
signal,  somebody  let  ofiF  a sky  rocket.  It  was  then  already  dark. 
Immediately  shots  came  from  many  houses.  They  were  shooting  at 
the  few  German  soldiers  remaining  on  the  streets  or  camping  on  the 
open  squares.  The  fusillade  spread  to  the  whole  city.  The  German 
soldiers,  who  were  running  in  every  direction,  shot  back  at  the 
houses.  The  street  fighting  became  general  and  lasted  all  night.  A 
gasoline  tank  blew  up.  The  flames  lit  up  the  sky.  Before  morning 
many  houses  in  the  center  of  the  town  and  near  the  railway  station 
were  burning. 

“When  daylight  came  the  German  soldiers  recaptured  some  of 
the  hostages  whom  they  had  released  only  the  day  before.  Among 
them  were  the  mayor,  the  prefect  of  the  university,  our  sub-prior 
of  the  Dominicans,  two  priests  of  other  orders  and  four  rich  trades- 
men. These  gentlemen  were  marched  through  the  streets  under  a 
white  flag  and  had  to  read  aloud  proclamations  in  French  and  Flem- 
ish advising  the  people  to  keep  quiet.  Nevertheless  the  firing  from 
the  houses  was  kept  up.  Some  irresponsible  miscreants  not  only 
shot  at  the  soldiers  escorting  the  hostages  but  even  at  the  military 
surgeon  accompanying  them,  though  he  wore  a brassarde  with  a 
red  cross  on  it.  I was  told  that  he  was  wounded.  All  Wednesday 
night  these  horrors  continued.  Many  houses  went  up  in  flames 
especially  on  the  Boulevard  de  Tirlemont. 

“On  Thursday,  August  27th,  at  8 :30  in  the  morning,  a German 
officer  with  some  soldiers  came  to  our  cloister  and  requested  our 
fathers  to  go  about  to  announce  that  the  city  would  be  bombarded, 
unless  the  shooting  stopped.  We  were  requested  to  tell  the  people 
to  leave  everything  as  it  was  and  to  come  to  the  railway  station 
empty-handed. 

“At  the  same  time  the  hostages  were  again  marched  through 
the  streets,  proclaiming  in  loud  tones  that  they  themselves  would  be 
shot  by  their  military  guards  unless  the  people  stopped  shooting. 
None  the  less  some  crazy  men,  hidden  in  their  barricaded  houses, 
took  shots  at  the  soldiers  accompanying  the  hostages  and  likewise 
at  German  stretcher-bearers  and  military  surgeons  who  were  carry- 
ing away  the  wounded.  There  was  desultory  shooting  the  whole 
day.  In  the  evening  another  proclamation,  commanding  that  the 
revolt  should  cease,  was  read  aloud  at  street  corners  by  certain 
hostages.  A German  officer,  riding  through  the  streets  with  a white 
flag  and  a bugler  behind  him,  announced  in  loud  tones  that  if  the 
firing  continued,  the  city  would  be  laid  level  by  artillery.  He  advised 
all  peaceful  inhabitants  to  come  to  the  railway  station. 

“At  nine  in  the  morning  we  were  all  at  the  station.  The 
wounded  Germans  and  Belgians,  had  been  brought  from  our  hos- 
pital in  the  cloister  to  the  station  where  they  were  bedded  on  cots 
in  the  waiting  room.  We  Dominicans  were  told  that  a train  would 

16 


be  ready  for  us  at  two  o’clock.  We  lK)ardc(l  the  train  at  that  hour. 
Long  before  this  hour  many  thousand  refugees  had  left  Louvain  in 
every  direction.  As  our  train  jnilled  out,  the  artillery  fire  began. 
From  the  car  windows  we  saw  fire  and  smoke  everywhere.  The 
market  halls  were  burning,  likewise  the  roof  of  St.  Peters,  likewise 
the  University  Library.  After  we  had  spent  a few  days  in  Aix  we 
were  allowed  to  come  back  to  Louvain.” 

This  account  of  the  friar  was  corroborated  by  two  Belgian  sisters 
of  mercy,  who  unreservedly  blamed  the  inhabitants  for  the  dreadful 
afTair.  In  my  presence  one  of  these  sisters  told  Mr.  Sittart,  the  German 
Reichstag  deputy,  who  appeared  interested  in  Catholic  affairs,  that  the 
Louvain  tragedy  was  the  result  of  the  mistaken  belief  of  the  inhabitants 
that  the  Germans  in  Belgium  had  been  routed  and  were  on  their  last  legs. 
The  most  vivid  account  of  an  eye-witness  was  given  to  me  by  the  Dutch 
correspondent  of  the  “New  Rotterdam  Courant”  in  Louvain.  He  said; 

“I  arrived  in  Louvain  from  Tirlemont  late  on  Tuesday  evening, 
August  25th,  when  the  street  fighting  was  in  full  blast.  A few  hours 
earlier,  when  most  of  the  German  troops  had  left  the  town  to  join  in 
the  battle  at  Malines,  some  natives  hidden  in  a house  opposite  the 
railway  station,  where  some  German  troops  had  just  arrived  by  train, 
started  shooting  at  the  soldiers.  Thereupon  shots  came  from 
neighboring  houses  and  forthwith  the  shooting  spread  from  house  to 
house  and  from  street  to  street. 

“German  soldiers  were  killed  in  the  station,  in  front  of  it,  and 
nearby — more  than  I could  count.  Many  more  were  wounded. 
Horses  were  struck  by  bullets  and  galloped  frantically  through  the 
streets,  some  of  them  dragging  wagons.  Many  horses  lay  dead. 
There  was  wild  confusion  everywhere  in  the  darkness.  Peeping 
out  through  a window  in  the  station  building  I could  plainly  see 
the  flashes  from  a machine  gun  on  a roof  opposite.  Later  the 
Germans  stormed  this  building  and  captured  that  machine  gun. 

“Generally  nobody  knew  where  most  of  the  shots  were  coming 
from.  Wherever  the  German  soldiers  saw  flashes  of  gunfire  they 
attacked  that  building  and  broke  into  the  doors.  Furious  fighting 
followed  in  and  around  the  houses  from  which  the  shots  had  come. 
Any  civilian,  who  was  caught  with  a gun  in  his  hands — or  wherever 
the  Germans  found  arms  hidden  in  his  house — was  shot  on  the  spot. 
Wherever  a figure  showed  at  a window  the  soldiers  shot  into  the 
window.  Of  course,  many  innocent  people  must  have  lost  their 
lives  in  the  general  confusion ; but  the  soldiers  were  too  wild  to  be 
able  to  tell  the  difference  in  the  darkness.  Those  people  who  were 
plainly  innocent — women,  sick  people,  old  folks  and  children — were 
summoned  forth  and  driven  to  places  of  detention  outside  of  the 
town. 

“A  German  officer  told  me  that  it  would  not  be  safe  for  me  to 
remain  at  the  station.  He  said  that  artillery  had  been  summoned 
from  the  outside.  Just  then  crowds  of  prisoners  were  brought  to 
the  station.  There  were  several  hundred  of  them,  among  them 

17 


priests,  women  and  children.  They  were  afraid  they  were  going  to 
be  shot  by  the  infuriated  soldiers.  I did  hear  one  soldier  say,  if  the 
shooting  in  the  town  did  not  cease,  that  the  Germans  ought  to  shoot 
every  tenth  prisoner.  One  of  the  prisoners  overheard  this  and  began 
to  wail.  Some  houses  in  the  neighborhood  went  up  in  flames. 
While  I was  talking  with  an  excited  German  officer  several  shots 
from  windows  across  the  street  struck  close  to  us.  More  shooting 
could  be  heard  down  the  street.  A frantic  prisoner  in  a workman’s 
blouse,  who  had  been  taken  with  a smoking  pistol  in  his  hand,  was 
being  court  martialled  by  two  officers.  Presently  he  was  led  out 
into  the  yard  and  was  shot. 

“Outside,  horses  and  cattle  were  stampeding  up  and  down  the 
street  neighing  and  bellowing  frantically.  Houses  were  burning 
here  and  there  and  we  could  hear  the  crash  and  deep  booming  of 
fallen  roofs  and  walls.  A gas  tank  blew  up  with  a great  red  flash. 
It  was  a night  of  terror. 

“Next  morning,  when  I cautiously  ventured  forth  in  the  com- 
pany of  some  German  soldiers,  I saw  many  dead  bodies  littering  the 
streets — of  soldiers  as  well'  as  of  civilians.  I saw  a dead  priest  lying 
face  downward  near  the  monument  on  the  Place  du  Peuple.  At 
another  place  an  old  man  with  white  hair  lay  dead.  Further  on 
lay  a dead  woman.  Evidently  they  had  ventured  forth  in  the  dark 
and  had  been  shot  in  the  confusion. 

“Further  on  I saw  the  body  of  another  dead  priest.  His  cassock 
was  covered  with  mud  and  blood.  It  was  a horrible  sight.  I can- 
not tell  you  all  the  horrid  things  I saw.  Later  came  the  artillery 
fire.  They  shot  down  the  houses  in  the  center  of  the  city.  By  the 
heroic  efforts  of  some  German  officers  and  railway  soldiers  the  old 
town  hall  and  the  church  of  St.  Peter  were  saved  from  the  flames. 
They  dynamited  buildings  adjoining  them.  They  also  saved  the 
cloister  of  Mont  Cesar.  The  German  Commandant,  Major  Man- 
teuffel,  who  was  away  and  came  back  to  the  city  only  after  the  fight 
was  well  under  way,  himself  saved  that  old  cloister  because  of  its  art 
treasures.  He  did  this  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  shots  were  said 
to  have  come  from  the  tower  of  the  cloister.  But  the  old  University 
Library  in  the  center  of  the  town  was  burnt  down  during  the  first 
night.  I saw  it  burn.  All  was  destroyed  but  the  front  wall.  It  was 
all  like  a horrible  nightmare. 

“So  far  as  I could  make  out  it  all  came  from  a false  report  of 
a German  defeat  near  Louvain  on  the  day  before.  It  is  a fact  that 
on  the  day  of  my  arrival  at  Louvain  there  was  fighting  near  Brussels. 
I could  hear  the  sound  of  artillery  as  I went  from  Tirlemont  to 
Louvain.  Two  days  afterward,  in  the  midst  of  the  flames  and  the 
confusion  at  Louvain,  I came  across  a German  officer  who  said  he 
had  been  in  a battle  near  Malines  on  August  25th.  He  asserted 
positively  that  a sortie  of  four  Belgian  divisions  from  Antwerp  had 
been  stopped  and  repulsed  there  by  the  Germans.  The  French  and 
English  who  were  to  help  them  had  failed  to  connect.  This  officer 
also  asserted  that  four  German  armies  were  advancing  into  France 

18 


and  that  the  army  under  von  Kluck  had  reached  a point  only  eighty 
kilometers  from  J’aris.” 

Another  correspondent  of  the  Amsterdam  I landelsblad,  who  was  in 
Louvain,  told  me  that  he  had  made  a special  investigation  of  the  story 
that  the  fight  had  started  from  (icrman  soldiers  mistakenly  shooting  at 
each  other.  From  what  he  had  gathered  he  was  convinced  that  this  story 
was  false.  This  same  correspondent  was  furthermore  convinced  that 
the  trouble  had  its  origin  in  the  fact  that  the  Belgian  militiamen  had  not 
surrendered  their  arms,  when  hidden  to  do  so,  but  had  either  kept  them 
or  passed  them  on  to  others  of  their  fellow  citizens. 

I m'ght  give  many  other  accounts  of  this  tragedy ; but  why  take  up 
more  time  since  I have  stated  the  main  essentials?  In  all  fairness  T should 
mention  that  I met  many  natives  who  told  me  privately  that  the  firing  of 
the  German  soldiers  had  been  absolutely  unprovoked,  and  that  they  per- 
sonally knew  nothing  of  the  guerilla  firing  from  houses.  Some  insisted 
that  it  was  the  outcome  of  a drunken  debauch,  certain  Bavarian  troops 
having  looted  the  Louvain  brewery.  As  a matter  of  fact  I found  that  the 
Louvain  brewery  had  been  left  unharmed,  nor  was  there  any  record  of 
Bavarian  troops  having  formed  a part  of  the  garrison.  My  own  im- 
pression of  Bavarians,  as  I know  them,  is  that  they  are  so  used  to  drinking 
beer  that  the  consumption  of  more  beer  away  from  home  would  scarcely 
make  them  fighting-drunk. 

Here  is  the  Belgian  official  version  of  the  affair,  as  published  in 
London  from  a telegram  of  the  Belgian  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs  to 
the  Belgian  legation  in  London,  dated  Antwerp,  August  28th : 

“Tuesday  evening  a German  army  corps,  after  suffering  a 
severe  defeat,  retired  in  disorder  into  Louvain.  German  sentries, 
who  stood  at  the  gates  thought  the  enemy  was  approaching,  and 
fired  on  their  fugitive  countrymen,  whom  they  mistook  for  Belgians. 
Notwithstanding  all'  protests  of  the  Louvain  authorities  the  Ger- 
mans, in  order  to  hide  their  blunder,  insisted  that  they  had  been 
fired  upon  by  natives,  although  the  natives  had  been  completely 
disarmed  one  week  before.  Without  any  investigation  and  without 
listening  to  any  testimony,  the  German  commandant  of  Louvain 
gave  orders  that  the  city  was  to  be  completely  destroyed.  German 
soldiers  with  hand  bombs  set  fire  to  the  town  at  all  four  corners. 
The  wonderful  church  of  St.  Peter,  all  the  university  buildings,  the 
library  and  the  scientific  institutes  were  delivered  over  to  the  flames. 
Thus  Louvain,  the  spiritual  capital  of  the  Netherlands  since  the 
fifteenth  century,  is  now  nothing  but  an  ash  heap.  This  crime 
against  humanity  is  without  precedence  in  history.” 

Now  that  I have  given  all  these  various  versions  of  credible  eye- 
witnesses and  others,  I will  make  free  to  state  my  own  conclusion,  as 
formed  after  sifting  all  the  firsthand  testimony,  whether  corroborative 
or  contradictory,  that  I was  able  to  gather  at  Louvain.  My  conclusion 
is  that  the  outbreak  at  Louvain  was  the  result  of  the  mistaken  impression 
of  many  of  the  inhabitants  that  the  Germans  were  being  beaten  in  other 
parts  of  Belgium  and  that  the  hour  for  Belgian  vengeance  had  come. 

19 


Had  the  people  of  Louvain  really  given  up  all'  their  hidden  arms  and 
ammunition,  as  they  were  called  upon  to  do  by  their  own  authorities, 
the  outbreak  would  never  have  happened.  The  fact  that  machine  guns 
were  brought  into  play  against  the  Germans  shows  plainly  that  the  revolt 
must  have  been  in  some  measure  premeditated  and  prepared ; since 
peaceful  civilians  do  not  have  machine  guns,  neither  do  they  have 
ribbons  with  machine  gun  ammunition,  neither  do  they  have  trained 
gunners  at  hand  to  serve  them.  While  I was  at  Louvain  I saw  with  my 
own  eyes  one  of  these  Belgian  machine  guns,  said  to  have  been  captured 
opposite  the  railway  station.  The  gun  showed  marks  of  rifle  bullets. 
While  I was  at  Louvain  I also  took  note  of  the  fact  that  most  of  the 
houses  that  were  spared  had  chalk  inscriptions  on  their  doors  and  shut- 
ters, saying:  “Schonen!  Unschuldige  Leute.”  (Spare  them!  Innocent 
people).  On  the  other  hand  I noticed  that  the  houses  and  buildings  that 
were  burnt  out  in  many  instances  showed  the  marks  of  rifle  bullets  on 
their  walls. 

I also  noticed  a new  proclamation  by  the  acting  burgomaster  of 
Louvain,  which  was  being  posted  on  the  walls  while  I was  there.  The 
following  is  my  translation  of  the  original  French  and  Flemish  text: 

“In  vain  have  we  searched  for  the  members  of  our  municipal 
council.  The  last  one  of  them,  Alderman  Smit,  turned  over  his 
official  papers  to  me  on  August  30th.  I consider  it  my  duty  to 
take  over  the  affairs  of  our  municipality,  together  with  some  well- 
known  citizens  aiding  me.  At  the  suggestion  of  the  German  military' 
authorities  I request  all  inhabitants  of  Louvain  to  return  to  their 
accustomed  vocations.  The  regulations  issued  by  my  predecessor 
remain  in  force,  to-wit : It  is  forbidden  to  walk  abroad  after  7 P.  M., 
Belgian  time.  All  arms  and  munitions  must  be  forthwith  sur- 
rendered at  the  town  hall.  All  hostile  demonstrations  against  the 
German  army  must  cease.  If  these  conditions  are  fulfilled  I am 
assured  by  the  German  military  authorities  that  no  inhabitant  will 
be  molested  or  curtailed  in  his  liberties.  The  city  will  be  policed 
in  the  day  time  by  municipal  volunteers,  bearing  a brassarde  of  the 
colors  of  our  city  and  an  identification  card,  properly  stamped  by 
me.  The  city  hall'  is  open  for  public  business.  (Signed)  A. 
Neerincx.” 

In  regard  to  the  total  destruction  of  Louvain,  as  falsely  reported 
in  the  Belgian  official  account,  and  in  regard  to  the  demolition  of  Louvain’s 
public  buildings,  monuments,  and  art  treasures,  I shall  now  give  you  the 
result  of  my  own  observations  there. 

The  worst  loss,  from  an  aesthetic  and  historic  point  of  view  was  the 
burning  of  the  rich  library  of  the  University  in  the  old  Cloth  Hall',  a 
Gothic  structure  dating  from  1317.  Only  the  front  wall  of  this  building 
was  left  standing.  The  librarian,  Professor  P.  Delannoy,  told  me  that  it 
had  contained  some  200,000  works,  mostly  of  church  literature.  Among 
these  were  nearly  a thousand  old  parchment  manuscripts,  the  most 
valuable  of  which  was  a holograph  of  the  famous  Thomas  a Kempis. 
There  were  also  some  380  incunabula,  a valuable  collection  of  old  coins, 
and  also  several  old  portraits  by  Flemish  masters.  From  a scholar’s  point 

20 


of  view  this  must,  of  course,  be  considered  an  irreparable  loss.  Other 
valuable  buildings  that  were  destroyed  are  the  Academy  of  Fine  Arts, 
which  was  an  old  sixteenth  century  hall,  the  Court  of  Justice,  which  was 
likewise  a sixteenth  century  structure,  the  Municipal  Opera  House,  the 
“Table  Ronde”  which  was  a private  club  with  some  valuable  modern 
paintings,  and  the  old  Collegium  Leodiense  of  the  University.  The  roof 
of  the  Collegial  Church  of  St.  Peter,  generally  misnamed  the  “Cathedral,” 
was  also  badly  damaged  by  the  fire,  though  by  no  means  irreparably. 

All  the  other  churches  in  Louvain  were  spared,  as  were  all  the  other 
university  buildings  and,  most  gratifying  of  all,  the  old  town  hall  with 
its  beautiful  late  Gothic  fagade,  were  completely  spared.  They  were 
saved  through  the  valiant  efforts  of  Major  von  Manteuffel  and  other 
officers  of  his  staff  including  Colonel  Block  of  the  railway  engineers,  who 
used  every  means  to  save  this  building.  At  the  time  when  the  flames 
were  creeping  across  the  high  roofs  from  house  to  house  in  the  compactly 
built  center  of  the  town,  everybody  thought  that  the  old  town  hall  was 
doomed.  It  happened  to  be  covered  with  wooden  scaffolding  for  renova- 
tion work.  This  added  to  its  danger.  Therefore  a company  of  German 
railway  troops  were  summoned,  who  succeeded  in  bringing  one  of  the 
municipal  fire  engines.  All  day  long  they  worked  to  save  the  structure. 
At  the  risk  of  their  lives  the  soldiers  climbed  on  the  roofs  of  the  adjoining 
burning  houses,  dragging  the  hose  along.  When  the  water  gave  out,  it 
was  decided  to  dynamite  the  adjoining  buildings.  First  the  houses  next 
to  the  town  hall  were  dynamited  in  a very  skillful  manner  after  every 
window  of  the  town  hall  had  been  opened  so  that  the  blasts  would  not 
harm  that  structure.  While  the  men  were  working  in  this  way  they  were 
fired  at  by  snipers  in  hidden  places. 

The  church  of  St.  Peter,  as  I have  said  is  practically  intact.  It  was 
lucky  to  escape  in  view  of  the  fact  that  hidden  arms  were  found  in  the 
church.  Fortunately  its  little  sacrament  house,  a Gothic  work  of  art  in 
carved  stone  by  De  Layans,  the  architect  of  the  town  hall,  escaped  un- 
harmed, as  did  also  the  Cathedral  organ  with  its  handsome  carved  oak 
case,  dating  from  1556,  and  likewise  the  beautiful  carved  wooden  pulpit, 
dating  from  1742.  Other  works  of  art  in  that  church,  such  as  the  paint- 
ings of  Flemish  masters,  like  “The  Last  Supper,”  and  the  “Martyrdom 
of  St.  Erasmus”  by  Diereck  Bouts,  and  other  paintings  by  Van  Rillearz, 
Flemalle,  and  Roger  van  der  Weyden,  together  with  other  movable 
treasures  were  saved  by  Captain  Thelamann,  an  art  connoisseur,  serving 
with  the  German  army,  who  turned  these  objects  over  to  the  safe  keeping 
of  Dr.  Neerincx,  the  acting  burgomaster  of  Louivain.  Among  these  art 
treasures  were  many  valuable  silver  and  gold  church  vessels  and  figurines 
of  saints,  dating  from  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries.  All  the 
paintings  in  the  Academy  of  Fine  Arts  were  likewise  saved  and  safely 
stored.  The  story  that  all  the  churches  of  Louvain  were  laid  in  ashes 
because  the  Germans  held  the  priests  and  friars  responsible  for  the  revolt 
of  the  populace  is  grossly  untrue.  While  I was  in  Louvain  I made  it  a 
point  to  enter  all  the  churches  and  chapels  there  and  found  them  all 
standing  intact,  without  any  indications  of  sacrilege,  excepting  only  St. 
Peters  with  its  damaged  roof.  Of  those  churches  I can  only  recall  off- 
hand those  of  St.  Michael,  of  St.  James,  of  St.  Gertrudis,  the  chapel  of 

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St.  Hubert  and  the  Chapel'  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Before  I left  Louvain 
a Louvain  architect  had  already  been  commissioned  by  the  Germans  to 
restore  the  damaged  roof  of  the  cathedral,  in  which  work  he  was  being 
assisted  by  German  help,  in  money  and  labor. 

Subsequently  expert  commissioners  were  sent  to  Louvain  by  the 
German  Government  to  make  a thorough  investigation  and  to  see  to  it 
that  no  further  art  treasures  should  be  either  damaged  or  carried  away. 
Among  these  commissioners  were  Dr.  Carl  Helfferich  of  the  German 
Bank  and  Dr.  von  Falke,  the  well  known  art  expert. 

All  that  remains  for  me  to  discuss  is  the  question,  how  far  the 
Germans  were  justified  in  doing  as  they  did  at  Louvain.  Aside  from 
downright  condemnation  there  are  two  points  of  view  from  which  their 
conduct  there  can  be  regarded. 

One  is  that  civilians  were  killed  and  houses  destroyed  at  Louvain  as 
an  act  of  retaliation,  that  is  to  say,  vengeance.  This  motive  undoubted^ 
had  much  to  do  with  the  spontaneous  conduct  of  the  German  soldiers,  as 
was  but  natural  in  the  circumstances.  As  an  American,  of  considerable 
military  experience,  I think  it  only  just  to  remind  you  of  the  fact  that 
our  American  military  code  recognizes  the  principle  of  retaliation.  Here 
is  the  paragraph  relating  to  this  point  in  our  “Instructions  for  the  govern- 
ment of  armies  of  the  United  States  in  the  field”  as  submitted  to  the 
latest  international  conferences  at  the  Hague : 

“The  law  of  war  can  no  more  wholly  dispense  with  retaliation 
than  can  the  law  of  nations,  of  which  it  is  a branch.  Yet  civilized 
nations  acknowledge  retaliation  as  the  sternest  feature  of  war.  A 
reckless  enemy  often  leaves  to  his  opponent  no  other  means  of 
securing  himself  against  the  repetition  of  barbarous  outrage.” 

As  most  of  you  will  know  we  had  countless  instances  of  retaliation 
during  our  American  Civil  War.  An  international  case  of  retaliation  in 
American  history  was  the  bombardment  of  Greytown  in  Nicaragua  by  an 
American  squadron  during  the  fifties. 

The  other  point  of  view  is  that  such  stern  measures  are  not  under- 
taken in  the  spirit  of  vengeance  so  much  as  for  a deterrent  example,  to 
prevent  recurrence  of  further  outrages  and  to  crush  dangerous  popular 
uprisings  on  the  part  of  armed  natives.  Were  it  not  for  such  measures, 
it  is  held,  no  German’s  life  would  now  be  safe  in  Belgium.  This  is  the 
official  German  view  as  voiced  by  General  von  Biss.ng,  the  commander 
of  the  seventh  German  Army  Corps,  of  which  the  German  troops  in 
Louvain  formed  a part.  Baron  von  Bissing  made  the  following  official 
statement  in  Brussels  when  I was  there: 

“The  acts  of  reprisal  practiced  by  our  troops  against  the  guer- 
illas of  Belgium  have  been  characterized  and  denounced  as  mere 
acts  of  vengeance.  This  is  a false  view.  The  underhanded  and 
treacherous  attacks  that  have  been  made  and  are  still  being  made 
by  the  hostile  population  on  our  troops  here,  have  made  it  my  ab- 
solute duty  to  proceed  against  such  hostile  natives  with  iron  severity. 
To  show  weakness  in  these  cases  would  amount  to  treason  to  our 
own  army.” 


22 


“When  a fanatic,  reckless  populace  takes  to  murdering  single 
soldiers,  invalids,  sureeons  and  nurses,  when  the  safety  of  all  com- 
munications is  imperilled  by  irresponsible  incendiaries  in  our  rear, 
the  law  of  self-preservation  demands  that  all'  military  commanders 
must  employ  the  severest  measures  against  such  people,  even  though 
the  innocent  have  to  suffer  with  the  guilty.  Only  thus  can  the 
occupied  regions  be  preserved  from  tbe  horrors  of  partisan  warfare.” 

That  this  point  of  view  is  not  foreign  to  our  own  military  institu- 
tions you  will  gather  from  the  following  paragraph  of  our  own  American 
field  service  regulations,  which  I have  here: 

“Paragraph  82.  Men,  or  squads  of  men,  who  commit  hostilities, 
whether  by  fighting,  or  by  inroads  for  destruction  or  plunder,  or  by 
raids  of  any  kind,  without  commission,  without  being  part  and 
portion  of  the  organized  hostile  army,  and  without  sharin?r  con- 
tinuouslv  in  the  war,  but  who  do  so,  with  intermitting  returns  to 
their  homes  and  advocations,  or  with  the  occasional  assumption  of 
the  semblance  of  peaceful  pursuits,  by  divesting  themselves  of  the 
character  or  appearance  of  soldiers — such  men,  or  squads  of  men, 
are  not  public  enemies,  and,  therefore,  if  captured,  are  not  entitled 
to  the  privileges  of  prisoners  of  war,  but  shall  be  treated  summarily 
as  highway  robbers  or  pirates.” 

• As  many  of  you  must  know  there  have  been  many,  manv  instances 
of  our  adhesion  to  such  practice  in  American  historv,  notablv  during 
General  Sherman’s  march  to  the  sea,  during  our  various  Indian  wars, 
when  Indian  men  and  women  were  often  killed  indiscriminatelv,  and 
during  our  Mexican  war  and  Philippine  campaigns,  where  we  had  to 
deal  with  guerillas. 

I myself  was  present  in  Nicaragua  when  our  men  of  the  navv  and 
marine  corps  were  treacherously  attacked  by  native  pacificos  at  Leon, 
where  two  of  our  men  were  shot  down  right  beside  me,  and  I can  assure 
you  that  our  officers  and  men  did  not  hesitate  to  retaliate  bv  shooting 
back.  Of  the  natives  then  killed,  many  were  apparently  pacific  civilians. 

I was  also  at  Vera  Cruz  in  Mexico,  when  that  place  was  forcefully 
taken  by  our  blue-jackets  and  marines.  There,  too,  a library  was  de- 
stroyed and  a number  of  apparentlV  pacific  native  men  and  women  were 
kihed,  among  them  some  neutral  foreigners.  There,  too,  the  American 
officer  in  command.  Rear  Admiral  Fletcher,  threatened  to  lay  the  defence- 
less town  in  ashes  unless  all  resistance  ceased  at  once. 


There  is  a French  saying  thnt  “pn  omelet  cannot  be  made  without 
breaking  eggs”  and  there  is  another  French  sayin^^  that  “war  is  war.” 
We  have  an  American  saying,  attributed  to  General  Sherman,  which  is 
evf=*n  more  granhic.  As  a man  who  had  to  follow  nr^ev  warq  I can  onb” 
tell  you  that  General'  Sherman  was  right,  when  he  said : “War  is  hell.” 
When  those  misguided  men  of  Louvain  opened  fire  on  those  unsuspecting 
German  soldiers  in  their  citv,  thev  let  hell  loose  upon  Louvain.  If  the 
Germans  had  not  done  as  thev  did  an  even  worse  hell  would  have  been 
let  loose  over  all  Belgium,  and  Belgium  now  would  be  in  the  same  state 
of  blbody  anarchy  as  Mexico. 


f!:B 


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